Success Takes More than Showing Up with Your Talent

Talent and skill are only part of what it takes to be successful in professional sports. After seven years in the NFL (the average player’s career lasts only 3.3 years) and currently playing for the Houston Texans, Jeff Driskel knows what it takes to achieve longevity in pro football. Those techniques can be applied to any endeavor.

Here’s part of what he shared when he was my guest on The Crossman Conversation .

“Obviously, the number one thing is you have to have talent, right? You have to be able to go out there and produce,” Jeff said. “But there’s more to it. I want to play as much as possible, but if I’m not out there playing, I want to contribute, to add value.”

Jeff is proactive about looking for ways to add value, whether it’s in the meeting room or on the scout team, whether it’s part of his job description or not.

He also makes it a point to reach out to the rookies on the team, to help them acclimate to the unique environment of professional football. He vividly remembers who did that for him—former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vincent Rey, who now serves as the team’s chaplain.

It’s also important to do your homework, know what you’re doing, and build trust by being someone your teammates can count on. “Give the organization a reason to keep you around every day,” Jeff said. What great career advice for anyone!

Jeff also talked about the importance of work-life balance. He cautioned against letting your identity be totally wrapped up in your work and what other people think of you. “If all of your eggs are in that [work] basket all the time, and that’s where you find your worth, you’re going to be let down every time,” he said.

Speaking candidly about what it was like to be an aggressively recruited teenage star athlete, Jeff said, “Mot people aren’t ready for that kind of attention. I know I wasn’t. My parents helped me stay grounded and humble.”

We also had a lot of fun telling football stories, both college and professional. Even if you’re not a sports fan, you’ll enjoy them.

To listen to the podcast, go to:

https://www.theshepherdradio.com/podcasts/the-crossman-conversation/episode/s1e011-nfl-qb-jeff-driskel-is-johns-guest-and-talks-about-the-importance-of-his-upbringing-and-an-early-mentor-on-his-team/

Read my article on work-life balance:

A Simple, Effective Approach to Work-Life Balance | by John Crossman | Sep, 2022 | Medium

John Crossman is the founder of Crossman Career Builders , the host of The Crossman Conversation , and the author of Career Killers Career Builders . Check out Crossman Career Builders on YouTube . Connect with John on LinkedIn , Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .